of chicago



1 ,324:,994:. Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

EWAW

' UNITED: STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR' TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRIC WIRES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 25, 1917, Serial No. 198,472. Renewed June 6, 1919. SeriaI'No. 802,292.

To all whom it may oncem Be it known that REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Connectors for Electric Wires, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming apart of this specificatlon.

My invention relates to improvements in connectors for electric wires, one of my objects being to provide a connector which will dispense with the old method of twisting the two bared ends of a pair of con nectors together to make a joint and then taping the joint to properly insulate 1t, when it is desired to join the ends of a pair of connectors. 1

F orthe purpose of disclosing my invention I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a number of embodiments thereof.

In the drawingsr Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan 'view of the inside face of one of the connector members;

Fig. 3 is a' longitudinal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. 4

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of my connector constructed for connecting three wires.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken onthe line 66 of Fig. 5. I

Fig. 7 is a sectional figure taken on the line 77 of Fi 6.

Fig. 8 is a si e elevation of another form of my invention.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of still another form of my invention;

Fig. 12 is an axial sectional view of Fig. 11; and 4 Fig. 13 is a view of the clamping rlng for securing the two sections together of the forms illustrated in Figs. 8 to 12.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 to 4, the connector comprises an elongated rounded clamp preferably tapering at its ends and a connector binding post plate 5 carrying at each end a binding post 6, suitable recesses 7 being formed in the bottom of the channel to accommodate the ends of the screws forming the binding posts. The plate 5 widens at its center portion as does the channel, and is provided with a central opening through which projects the boss 4. The meeting face of each of the sections is provided at one end with a dial opening 8 and at the opposite end a dial opening 9 which, when the two sections are placed face to face, coincide and aid in looking the sections together. After the bared ends of the connectors 10 are secured to the binding posts, the two sections are fitted together clamping between them the insulated covered ends of the Wires, and are secured together by means of a central bolt 11 which passes through the sections at the point wherethe boss 4 is formed, the head and end of the bolt being countersunk in the outer sides of the sections.

In the structure illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7, instead of continuing the channel through each section it stops short'of the end of the section leaving the end closed and meets a cross-channel 12 extending transversely of each of the sections of the body. One end of the connector plate 5 with its binding post 6 projects into this channel to receive the two bared endsof the transversely extending connectors, whereby a T-joint of the connectors may be made.

The structure illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 4, except instead of holding the two sections together by a bolt the sections are provided with an annular groove 13 on their exterior for the reception of a split clamping ring 14 for holding the .two sections together. The bosses 4 which surround and insulate the bolt 11 in the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 are dispensed with in the structure shown in Figs. 8 to 12. The structure illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 resembles that Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

in Figs. 5 to 7 except that the clamping ring 14 is used instead of the bolt 11.

It will be noted that the space between the endsand the split clamping ring is sufficiently wide to pass over to permit the conductor to ass between the same. "This avoids the necessity of placing the ring in position over one of the wires before the connections have been made. In assembling the two sections where the clamping ring is used, the two wires are connected to the binding post 6, after which the othersection' is placed in position and the ring slipped over the wires and then up along the two assembled sections until it snaps in position in its positioning groove 13, the tapering form of the connector assisting in sliding the ring in position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A connector for electric wires, comprising a conductor provided with a plurality of wiring terminals, and an insulating housing for the conductor and wiring terminals, comprising two similar insulatm'g members, between which the wiring terminals and conductor are housed; and means for securing said insulating members together, comprising a spring ring having free ends, the tension in said spring ring being such as to tend to contract the ring when in position,

said spring ring being constructed so that it can he slipped over the conductor after the conductor is secured to its wiring terminal, and then slipped into position to embrace the insulating members. 2. A connector for electric wires, comprismg a conducting member having a plurality of wiring terminals for'the conductors, and means for housing and insulating said conductor member and wiring terminals, comprising two insulating housing members, between which the conductor and wiring termmals are housed, and means for holding said insulating members together, comprising a spring ring having free ends, the tens1on in said spring ring being such as to tend to contract said ring when the ring is in position, said insulating housing being provided with a depression to receive said spring ring and hold it in place, and also being provlded with a tapering portion leading to said depression, along which the ring is slipped into place, the tapering portion serving to expand the ring as the ring is slipped along it, so that the ring will snap into place in the depression.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto, subscribed my name.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. Witnesses:

PAUL D. PHILLIPS, \Vnsnnn MACNAUGHTON. 

